Like many rappers, New York underground hip-hop hero Mos Def was first heard on guest appearances with other artists, in this case Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. It was his 1998 collaboration with the like-minded Talib Kweli in the duo Black Star tha…

The Living Legends a loose collective of MCs and DJs from the OaklandSan Francisco Bay Area Los Angeles Japan and Europe are unique for both their down-to-earth songs and approach to the music business Following in the footsteps of California artists…

Underground hip-hop duo Jedi Mind Tricks started out in the streets of Philadelphia in early 1996 Producer Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind and MCs Vinnie Paz aka Ikon the Verbal Hologram and Jus Allah aka Megatron released the Amber Probe EP in 1996 and …

New York MC and beat-maker Aesop Rock offers rapid-fire, often stream-of-consciousness lyrics, stuttering beats, and a frequently murky, atmospheric production aesthetic, making him one of the most distinctive hip-hop artists of his era. Though he be…

This trio of genre-bender pride has made a name for itself on the Bay Area scene by successfully mixing spiritualism and hip-hop Oaklands MC Zion and DJproducer Amp Live blend hip-hop and trip-hop beats with lyrics focused on a message of unity hope …

A longtime friend of Definitive Jux leader El-P rapper Murs first appeared as a solo artist in 2003 after nearly a decade of working with various groups in the underground Based in Los Angeles his first single was released in 1993 and came from a sel…